Transport fuels to be blended

The Govt has set a ten-year deadline for the blending of petrol and diesel with 20% bio-fuel, aimed at reducing energy-starved India’s dependence on imported crude oil.

The government has set a ten-year deadline for the blending of petrol and diesel with 20 per cent bio-fuel, aimed at reducing energy-starved India’s dependence on imported crude oil.

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The Cabinet on Thursday approved the implementation of the National Biofuel Policy that has set an indicative target of blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol and non-edible oil from plants like Jatropha in diesel by 2017, an official statement said.

At present, 5 per cent ethanol blending in petrol is mandatory across the country, except Jammu & Kashmir, northeastern states and island territories.

India is the world’s second largest producer of sugar after Brazil. Ethanol is produced from molasses, a sugar by-product. The country imports more than 70 per cent of its crude oil requirements.

Ethanol production is concentrated in UP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, AP, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar.